I’d say mid-fi (around that $600 mark) is probably the sweet spot when it comes to price-to-performance. Of course diminishing returns is there, but it’s not as strong as something that is $1000+ imo. If you already have some IEMs that are about $200-$300, the next jump up to $600 isn’t massive.
If you could potentially sell off a few IEMs, then I could justify the purchase, personally. But @cal_lando makes a very good point, if you’re comfortable buying 2nd hand, you’ll get much more value.
You got me in your first question… I forgot to make the same question to myself and yeah, I’m happy with them.
In the end I think it’s more an itch and anxiety to buy something as I’m not looking for a different signature. 
I read what @domq422 wrote about the Pandas and this also helped me to understand that I just need to enjoy some music and what I have.
Honestly. $500-1000+ gear is fun. You’ll get different technology and tuning, companies are willing to take some risks to do something outside of the box.
I don’t think most of those sets are materially better than really good $100-300 sets. For me, the differences are in the margins, and I haven’t personally had an experience that I was BLOWN AWAY by an expensive set.
I haven’t gotten that feeling that makes me need to buy an expensive set. I just get the itch of wanting to hear everything, so that I know what’s out there. But if we’re talking about my own money, I haven’t found a need to spend over $300 yet
New prices.
I live in Brazil and the only option is AliExpress. There’re some used ones in the local market but more budget stuff.
I’ll settle down and enjoy what I have. 
Simple answer is no. Some of the sub $300 Chi-Fi sets being released today easily compete with $600 range. Which one could even argue even bet them if it’s a tuning or signature you really enjoy like @domq422 and myself with the Panda. I reach for the Panda frequently even against numerous $600-$1k because it’s just that good and unique. If you want to explore different signatures @GooberBM has his upgrade matrix and is a master of finding similar tuning sets. Now if your like me and money just burns a whole in your pocket by all means go forth.
Agreed but if you’re just listening at home and don’t need to block out any background noise or add to it?..then a well tuned $200-300 Bud will probably do a better job of faithfully recreating your library than most $1k+ IEM sets…horses for courses, ymmv of course.
I second to this lol. I kept reaching out for my $99 Pandas vs my Syphomium Meteor and KL even with both having better techs.
I literally got curious and went from having B2Dusk and Tea2 as my main sets to purchasing KL and Symphonium Meteor 500~600$ sets. I feel like the significant improvements (or at least what I value) I got is they were much smoother sounding that the first two but is not far enough to justify the price going double. IMO diminishing returns is true for $600+ sets if coming from $300 sets.
With IEMs up to 200-300 dollars, I hardly get the wow factor. I don’t agree that there are many Chinese $300 IEMs that compete with Chinese or other $600+ IEMs. There are single IEMs for $300 that are good, but there are also single IEMs around $600 that are good. There are also single IEMs for $1000 that are good. There are single units of IEM 2000 dollars that are good, etc. I had a chance to hear the DUNU SA6 MK2 these days and I think it redefines the price point and rivals much higher priced IEMs. I liked the SA6 MK2 so much with its smooth performance that it will make me buy it, great setup, superb aesthetics,superior specs, whatever you’re looking for in a $300 IEM, you won’t find it, and probably won’t find it in many $1000+ IEMs. That’s life. ! Just not all IEMs are good regardless of price point! Therefore, there are benchmark IEMs that adjust the price category from time to time. Just my 2 cents. 
Yup, it’s funny how this hobby works when I’ll take an $100 IEM (P1 Max) over an “endgame” (U12T) any day of the week. I’d also take the OG Tea over the SA6 MK2 any day as well 
The Ultra puts up more of a challenge, but I’d still take the Teas 
So, it really depends on the IEM like you said 
You don’t say?! I’m so hyped now 
What does the Panda do for you more than others, immersion maybe?
Damn man I can’t wait to hear your opinion on the Tea. I’m super hyped and hope it hits you like Panda but, differently at the same time. It’s a damn fine set and probably the first IEM I had a Panda night with. For some odd reason these days it just doesn’t get much use and it was a shame for it to sit unused without giving someone else a chance to hear it.
Oh man - you had a Panda night with the OG Teas? God damn. I can’t get to Brandon’s house fast enough to pick these things up I’m hoping tomorrow morning I get a sliver of time to drop by but I don’t know… might have to tell my manager I’ll be running a little late thank you again for the opportunity, brother. I have the Pandas in my ears as we speak and they’re just so flawless to me - I can’t describe it. I feel like these will be in my top 10 IEMs of my life come retirement. They hit me that hard.
The sense of stage depth and width coupled with the ridiculously beautiful vocal presentation does it for me. There is one other set that bests the Pandas in my collection and that’s the OG Dark Magician. But even so, the Pandas have that Planar snappiness that the DMs can’t touch. Idk, man. They’re just… special
You wanna come in the morning? Okay, more tea time, it is
Yeah it’s gonna have to be tomorrow, no time tonight unfortunately, I forgot to give you a heads up
I was thinking you’d come after work on your way home. You’re like “hell no, negro. Gimme my Teas now!”
LMAO
My wife wouldn’t take too kindly to me adding another 20 minutes to my journey for just some headphones - she’s already sick of my obsession as it is 
Dude, you better keep the wife happy. Headphones ain’t worth pissing her off 
Exactly my point 
Instead of heading home holding Teas, I’m holding tacos; thank you for joining Dom Q’s marriage Ted Talk